Trouser-creasing apparatus



am 9, 1948. LECLEMENTS 2,437,457

TROUSER-CREASING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1944 BK HARP/5, /fEcH F057 f f: HARP/5 Patented Mar. 9, 1948 idiili naar TROUSER-CREASING APPARATUS Louis F. Clements, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 29, 1944, Serial No. 537,785

Claims. (C1. 38-70) This invention relates to mechanisms ior creasing mens trousers, womens slacks and similar wearing apparel and is especially adapted to devices for applying pressure for appreciable intervals of time as the sole creasing agency, whereby application of heat, and usually of moisture, is avoided.

The principal object of the invention is to produce an especially simple, eiiective and cheap construction for the purpose.

Although trousencreasing appliances of the pressure type have been known for many years, they have had various disadvantages. For exani ple, some of the structures used heretofore have been made of steel and have been too heavy to be acceptable to the trade. Others have been unduly complicated and as a result have been either too expensive or too awkward to operate, or both, and likewise have not been acceptable. As a result of these and other objections, trouser creasers oi the nature described have never attained the popularity to which they are reasonably entitled, although there is a wide potential market for a structure which would have general appeal. Modernly, trouser creasing is comm-only a function of the tailor or of specialized pressing services, but much of this custom is a result of the convenience of employing such services in the absence of simple means for home use by individuals. Even though trouser-creasing appliances oi the present type cannot meet all requirements, nevertheless, creases which have become slightly affected by a days wear may be readily restored by a slight stretching and straightening of the garment to restore normal shape and the application of pressure for an appreciable interval of time, for example overnight, to restore the original sharp creases. Such a function of continuously maintaining sharp, straight creases in trousers is one that can scarcely be performed for the ordinary individual by pressing services because of the required frequency of operation.

A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide such a structure that will appeal to individuals because or simplicity of operation and because of such modest cost that they may possess as many as convenient to use.

I have discovered a form of construction for trouser creasing devices which renders the apparatus simple to manufacture and easy to operate by the user in his home, and of such cheapness as to enable an ordinary individual to provide one for each pair of trousers which he owns.

Other objects and features of the invention are found in the employment of long strips of rigid material oi relatively soft or fibrous nature as compared with metal, and of light weight as-compared with metal, for example wood, wherein two spaced units or body members are employed for creasing opposite edges of trouser legs, each unit comprising a flat rabbeted body member to an edge of which adjacent to the rabbet a cooperating elongated presser plate is hinged, preferably by means of a special fabric hinge construction. In a preferred form, a plurality of locking bars is employed, one end of each of which is movably connected with one oi the rabbeted members and the other end of each oi which is adapted to connect ldetachably with the other rabbeted member to bind the presser plates in clamping position whereby to press the edges of trouser legs between the rabbeted members and the presser plates. According to a preferred construction, pairs of spacing arms are frictionally pivoted together and at opposite ends are frictionally secured to the faces of the rabbeted members opposite from the presser plates. A further preference requires that each pair of spacing arms be so set as to tend to shift or cant the body members with respect to each other when the locking bars are in operative position, whereby to yield a tensioning eiect upon the locking bars and also to increase the clamping pressure of the locking bars upon the presser plates.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specication and accompanying drawing, wherein certain embodiments of the present invention are disclosed for purpose of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of this invention is disclosed by way of illustration,

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the parts of the present structure in operative relation holding a pair of trousers in creasing position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken approximately from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section, the two spaced body members, however, not being connected in operative relation, whereby to show their nonaligned position under such conditions;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar cross-section detail showing the presser plate in non-engaging position;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail, as indicated by the line B-S of Fig. 1, the presser plate, however, being raised into non-engaging position:

Fig. 'I is a side elevational detail, as indicated by the line 'I-'I of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational detail, as indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

In the form of construction shown in the drawing, a pair of spaced elongated body members ID is provided, these members being adapted to receive the opposite creased edges of trouser legs and being formed of single lengths of material, each of which is sufficiently long to engage the creased portions throughout their full extent. Each member I D comprises a relatively wide base plate I2 at one side of which an upstanding side rail or border I4 is provided by means of rigid connection therewith as by being integrally formed. Such a structure of the body members ID is the result of a rabbet I5 produced 'either by a rabbeting tool where wood or similar fibrous material is employed, or by molding where plastic or a kindred material is used. For the purpose of binding the edge of a trouser leg upon the base plate I2 of each member I0, a hinged ap or presser plate I6 is disposed in the rabbet I5 when in operative position, the presser plate I6 corresponding approximately in size and shape with the size and shape of the rabbet I5, and being of Aa length equal to the length of the body member I6. The outer edge of the inner side of each presser plate I6 is hingedly connected with the adjacent edge of the contiguous wall of the upstanding rail I4, such hinge preferably being a fabric hinge I8, as hereinafter described.

Against the rear face of each base plate I2, that is the outer face opposite from the corresponding presser plate I6, one arm of each of a pair of spacing arms 2U is positioned, each pair of arms 2n being pivotally bound together as by a rivet 22 to form a friction joint, and the opposite end of each arm being frictionally secured to the remote edge of the corresponding body member ID opposite the respective rail I4, washers 23 and wood screws 24, or the like, being employed for the purpose. The arms 20, which are formed of wood or other material of which the body members I 0 are formed, have appreciable thickness, as shown, which results in an oiset arrangement of the two arms 20 of each `pair with respect to the two body members I0. The arms 20 cooperate with a plurality of locking bars 25 carried on the opposite face of the structure to clamp the presser plates I6 in creasing position. One end of each of these locking` bars 25 is pivotally mounted, as by means of a screw 26 and a washer 21, upon the forward face of one of the rails I4,

and each locking bar 25 is of such length that it will span the structure when the spacing arms 26 are in their position of maximum extension. The free ends of the locking bars 25 are adapted to engage within retainers 28 shown as carried on the rail I4 of the body member I0 opposite from that carrying the pivot screws 26. The retainers 28 illustrated are in the form of locking jaws or hooks undercut on an incline at 30 to receive the corresponding edges of locking bars 25 whereby to wedge the bars 25 into locking position against the bases 32 of the hooks. 'I'he bases 32 serve to space the hooks 28 from the faces of the rails I4, the walls adjacent the rails I4 being bound to the rails by means of a plurality of screws 34 passing through each of said bases 32 into the corresponding rail I4. Thus, when the presser plates or flaps I6 are moved into their clamping positions, as shown in Fig. 2, and the locking bars 25 are swung on their pivots 26 into engagement with the inclined faces 3l) of the hooks 28,

this action tends to establish a biased relationship which produces a binding effect upon the free edges of the presser plates I 6 and causes the rear Walls of the base plates I2 to move into the same plane. This results in a limited amount of iexure of the spacing arms 20, somewhat as indicated in Fig. 2, and at the same time causes some ilexure of the locking bars 25, especially when trousers are being creased, somewhat as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, The general result is a firmer engagement of the swinging ends of the locking bars 25 with the inclined faces 3D of the hooks 28 and an increased clamping action of the presser plates or flaps I6 along the fabric held against the base plates I2.

For the purpose of hanging the creasing device, one end, which may be termed the upper end, of each body member I6 is provided on the rear face with a hook 35 similar to the hooks 23. These hooks 35 may be placed over the transverse bar of a conventional wire coat hanger 36 or wooden coat hanger, or may be caught on the edge of a shelf or similar support.

With respect to the hinge structure indicated at I 8, while it might be sufficient for some uses to employ other forms of hinges to secure the presser plates I6, a preferred construction is a fabric hinge, such as illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein a long fabric strip 46 runs the full length of each body member I6 and its flap or presser plate I6. The strip 4I) in each instance covers the inner face 42 and the inner edge 43 of the presser plate IB, and also covers the inner side wall 44 of the rail I4 and the upper face 45 of the base plate I2. Thus, the strip 46 at an intermediate point forms a bend 46 which acts as a hinge, the portions which are secured to the faces 42 and 45 acting also as friction elements for fabric clamped between the plates I2 and I6.

Also, a plurality of spaced auxiliary fabric hinges 48 is employed. Each of these auxiliary hinges is in the form of a fabric strip 56 secured at least to the outer face 5I of the presser plate I6 and to the outer face of the rail I4. Preferably, one end 52 of each hinge strip 50 passes around the outer side of the presser plate I6 and is secured on the inner face 42 under the adjacent portion of the longitudinally extending hinge strip 46, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. Similarly, the opposite end 53 of each hinge strip 56 preferably extends around the body member IU, crossing its under face opposite from its upper face 45, and is secured to the upper face 45 under the adjacent portion of the hinge strip 4D. Desirably, one end 52 follows the hinge strip 46 along the inner edge 43 of the presser plate I6 and the inner side wall 44 of the rail I4, thereby reinforcing the hinge 46, and continues thence onto the face 45 where the extremities of the two ends 52 and 53 may abut as at 56 under the adjacent portion of the strip 40.

One of the functions of the hinges 48 is to resist the lateral movement of the presser plate I6 when being lowered to closed position, whereby to resist separation of the adjacent strip 40 from the corresponding side wall 44 of the adjacent side rail I4. Similarly, one of the functions of each hinge strip 4G, when the presser plate I6 is open, is to resist outward motion of the presser plate I6 and avoid pulling of the hinge strips 50 from the outer face of the corresponding rail I4.

The hinge strips 4U and 56 may be of any appropriate fabric suitably cemented to the body members IIl and the presser plate I6. For example, for a superior construction, an adhesive Operation In using the creasing apparatus of this invention, the locking arms Z5 are disconnected from their' retaining hooks 28 and are moved about their pivots at 25 toa position in which they clear the adjacent presser plate iii. When in such. relation, the presser plate it may be raised to a position such as indicated in 5 and G, and, similarly, the presser plate it of the opposite member lil may be raised. The creased edges at one side or both legs of a pair of. trousers are then laid upon, the upper face of one base plate l2, and the presser plate i6 is folded down upon the fabric to a position approximately as indicated in i igs. 2 and 3. The dimensioning may be such as to allow a limited amount of space between the presser plate i5 and the base plate I2 to avoid overcrowding. When the edges at one side of the trouser legs have been properly placed, the opposite edges of the trouser legs are similarly placed on the other base plate i2 and the corresponding presser plate it lowered into its ciamping position. Preferably, the trouser edges are first placed in that body member carrying the locking bars 25, so. that, by swinging the locking bars 25 part away across the respective presser plate i5, the latter may be lightly retained in clamping position while the opposite edges of the trouser legs are being placed in the other body member lil. The locking bars 25 are then swung into engagement with their respective hooks 2%. Heins or cuis are preferably disposed beyond the upper ends of the clamping members in order to relieve the apparatus of the corresponding extra thicknesses of fabric which would otherwise interfere with the clamping operation. The apparatus is then expanded by reason of the pivotal movement of the arms 29 of each pair about their pivot points 22, whereby the trouser legs are stretched into shape. Having accomplished proper shaping and stretching, the free ends of the locked bars 25 are pressed as tightly as possible into engagement behind the hooks 2B. By hanging the supporting hooks 35 carried on the back walls of the upper ends of the members iii over a conventional coat hanger 35i, the creasing apparatus with the trousers carried therein may be suspended from any suitable support.

Normally, several hours oi pressure are suiicient to provide sharp creases. By reason of the elongated hinges formed at @t by the fabric strips de, iirm engagement with the edges of the trouser legs is produced throughout the lengths of the body members lil. Commonly, when the presser plates It are moved down into clamping position, there is some tendency for the plates I f6 to assume a slightly angular position with respect to the base plates i2. This condition, taken in connection with the movement of the one body member I0 from the position shown in Fig. 3 into parallelism with the other body member iii when the locking bars 25 are moved into their locking positions behind the retaining hooks 28, results in a limited amount of flexure of the spacing arms E, as shown in Fig. 2, and also of the locking arms` 2d, as indicated in broken linesin Fig. 2. However, the flexure of the locking bars 25, shown in broken lines, is not so pronounced when edges of trouser legs are not clamped in place.

When the pressing apparatus is to be stored, the looking bars. 25 are swung toward each other so as to overlie portions of the corresponding member id, the extremities of the two bars lying alongside each other. rlhe two members IB are then moved into collapsed position, the two pairs spacing arms til likewise collapsing, so that the whole structure is arranged in compact form requiring no more space than the width of the two members l lying in parallelism with one another. ln this collapsed condition, the apparatos requires only a limited amount of space 'for packing and transport.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention here disclosed is merely illustrative of the generic invention sought to be protected, and that, since many modifications will he apparent to those skilled in the art, all such variations as iall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be covered thereby.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a trouser-creasing mechanism: a pair of spaced elongated body members, each of said body members being provided with a longitudinally extending rabbet forming an upstanding outer rail and the rabbets of said body members being-directedv toward each other; means adjustably connecting said body members in spaced relation; presser plates disposed in the rabbets in said body members; means hingedly connecting said presser plates to adjacent edges of said rails, such hinge means comprising a plurality of fabric hinges connecting each presser plate with its body member, each hinge comprising a fabric strip extending around portions of the corresponding presser plate and around portions of the corresponding body member, portions of each strip lying closely adjacent one another at the point of hinged connection between said plate and said body member, and a second fabric strip extending substantially the `full length of each presser plate and body member and being secured to the respective presser plate and body member and being folded along the line of hinged connection to form a hinge construction; and locking means mounted upon each of vsaid rails and spanning the space between said body members in engaging relation with said presser plates to clamp said plates against said body members.

2. In combination in a creasingdevice: an elongated body member having a rabbet extending longitudinally thereolF and providing an upstanding side rail, a side wall of said rabbet and a presser face; a presser plate disposed in said rabbet having a presser face opposing the first 'mentioned presser face and a side wall opposing the first mentioned side wall; and a fabric hinge comprising two fabric strips spanning a joint between the edge oi the rail adjacent said rabbet and the adjacent edge of said presser plate, one of said strips being attached to outer faces or" said rail and said presser plate, and the other of said strips being attached to said opposing side walls of said rabbet and said pres-ser plate.

3. In combination in a trouser-creasing mechanism: a pair of elongated spaced body members, each body member having a longitudinally eX- tending rabbet, said rabbets forming upstanding side rails on said body members and said rabbets being directed toward each other; a pair of spacing arms of appreciable thickness pivotally secured together at one end in frictional relationship, the opposite end of each arm being bound against the face of the respective body member opposite its rabbet, and said opposite end of each arm being frictionally secured to the respective body member opposite the respective rail whereby said members assume positions out of a common plane; presser plates movably mounted in said rabbets and adapted to clamp opposite edges of a trouser leg against said body members; a locking bar movably connected with said side rails and adapted to engage said presser plates; and means adapted to bind said locking bar against said side rails and said presser plates and to flex said spacing arms and move said body members toward a common plane.

4. In combination in a trouser-creasing mechanism: an elongated body member provided with a longitudinally extending rabbet forming an upstanding outer rail; a presser plate disposed in said rabbet; locking means carried by said rail and adapted to engage said pres-ser plate to clamp the latter against said body member; and hinge means connecting said presser plate to the adjacent edge of said rail, said hinge means comprising a plurality of fabric hinges, each hinge comprising a fabric length extending along portions of the presser plate and along portions of said rail, portions of such lengths lying closely adjacent one another at the point of hinge connection between said presser plate and said rail, each hinge having a fabric length extending entirely around said presser plate and entirely around said body member.

5. In combination in a trouser-creasing mechanism: an elongated body member provided with a longitudinally extending rabbet forming an upstanding outer` rail; a presser plate disposed in `said rabbet; locking means carried by said rail and adapted to engage said presser plate to clamp the latter against said body member; and hinge means connecting said presser plate to the adjacent edge of said rail, said hinge means comprising fabriclengths spanning a joint between the edge of the rail adjacent said rabbet and the adjacent outer edge of said presser plate, one of said fabric lengths being attached to an outer face of said rail and an outer face of said presser plate, and another of said fabric lengths being attached to opposing side Walls of said rabbet and said presser plate and folded along the line of the hinge connection, said presser plate and said rabbet providing opposing presser faces and said other` of said fabric lengths extending along said presser faces and providing opposed friction elements.

LOUIS F. CLEMENTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 902,808 Fahl Nov. 3, 1908 1,015,093 Stengel Jan. 16, 1912 1,851,728 Quartin Mar. 29, 1932 2,173,274 Fidler Sept. 19, 1939 

